ii4 



IXAXITION AND MALNUTRITION 



have a good appetite and are growing rapidly, so that (general) inanition plays 

 little or no part at this stage. During the last 10 days, however, the loss in 

 body weight corresponds to that in starvation. Bessesen ('23) found an average 

 loss of 16 per cent in beginning scurvy, and 37 per cent at death (Table 12). 

 Recovery is possible, even in extreme stages, upon the addition of antiscorbutics 

 to the diet (Fig. 46). 



Hess ('15, '16, '20, '23) has studied especially the effects of scurvy upon 

 children. The body weight usually becomes stationary, and growth in length 



b 



11 id 14 30 36 41 4b 54 



Fig. 46. — Chart showing growth curves of guinea pigs as affected by vitamin C. Curve A 

 shows growth on typical scurvy diet of oats, bran and water (deficient in vitamin C). Curve B 

 shows better growth for a time on oats and bran plus autoclaved milk, but eventual decline 

 and death from scurvy. Curve C shows growth curve on diet of oats, bran and water, result- 

 ing in scurvy; but cured by adding vitamin C (orange juice and autoclaved milk) to the diet. 

 Curve D shows the growth on the scurvy diet (oats, bran and water) plus 5 c.c. of orange juice 

 daily; autoclaved milk added on the 56th day. Curve E shows optimum growth on diet of 

 oats, bran and cabbage leaves; and Curve F on diet of oats, bran, autoclaved milk and 3 c.c. 

 of orange juice daily. (Med. Res. Comm. Report '19; from Chick & Hume '17.) 



is also greatly retarded (in contrast with the effects of chronic general inanition). 

 The symptoms may be obscure in latent cases. Rapid improvement in growth 

 is obtained by addition of vitamin C in the form of orange juice, a result also 

 noted by Chick and Dalyell ('21) and others. 



Water Deficiency (Aqueous Inanition). — The period of toleration of thirst 

 varies greatly in man, as noted by Rowntree ('22), the recorded duration ranging 



